00133424

RADIOLOGY: PANCREAS: Case# 32846: PANCREATIC MASS, OCCLUDED SMV, PV. This is an 88-year-old female who presented with jaundice. A pancreatic head mass was seen on ultrasound. CT was done to further evaluate this mass. A large 10 cm x 7 cm heterogenous mass demonstrating both cystic and solid components appears to be arising from the pancreatic head. There is marked dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct. The body and tail of the pancreas is atrophic. This pancreatic mass encases the SMA with irregularity and narrowing of the SMA consistent with invasion. The SMV and IMV are obliterated by the tumor mass. The portal vein is occluded as well. No definite hepatic metastases are identified, however, small areas of metastasis may be missed as there are breathing artifacts. This almost uniformly fatal cancer is the 4th most common malignant tumor accounting for 5% of cancer deaths in the United States. Symptoms are usually nonspecific and insidious such that the cancer is advanced by the time of diagnosis. Most cancers occur in the head of the pancreas and are usually adenocarcinomas arising from ductal cells. The sensitivity of CT scan in diagnosing pancreatic carcinoma is approximately 95% whereas that of ultrasound is less than 80% for cancer of the head and 40% for the tail. The primary finding on CT is a focal mass; however, if no mass is present, other findings may suggest neoplasm. First, the pancreas may become more heterogeneous in density with age. Thus, a focal region of homogeneous soft tissue density might raise suspicion of a carcinoma. The presence of both a dilated common bile duct and a dilated main pancreatic duct in the absence of calculus suggests ampullary or pancreatic head neoplasm, but this may also be seen in benign disease. The finding of a dilated main pancreatic duct in the body or tail but not in the head or neck suggests neoplasm, and finally, the finding of rounded convex borders of both anterior and posterior surfaces of the uncinate process raises suspicion for carcinoma. Ten to fifteen percent of patients will have potentially resectable tumors, and they may be distinguished by CT findings. Signs of potential resectability include an isolated pancreatic mass with or without dilatation of the bile and pancreatic ducts and combined bile-pancreatic duct dilatation without an identifiable pancreatic mass. Extension of the tumor beyond the margins of the pancreas, involvement of adjacent organs or the SMA, liver metastases, ascites, and regional adenopathy are signs of unresectability. Unfortunately, most of those who undergo resection eventually die of pancreatic cancer.